Drain fitting



F. L. w. LINK Oct. 2, 1951 DRAIN FITTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1946 00a -Oe O 2 olv n m ...si 0 0 0 @ya INVENTOR. fo'zes L W i12/f Oct. 2, 1951 F. l.. w. LINK 2,569,615

DRAIN FITTING Filed Nov. 21, 194e 2 sheets-sheet'z INVEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 Forest iL. "Bink, Silverton, 3(hio, :assg-nor Tfn The Schaible illompany, iGinnnati, imno, ai

corporation of Ohio Amilication November 21, 194B, SetialNofHL-lll (Chi- 2879 12.Claims.

1 This kinvention relates to improvements inthe construction lof drain fittings for use in sinks, basins, and the like, rand'part'.-icu'larly to improvements :in the strainer-and-valve rtype of iitting having two positive lnormal positions, Vone `fully open and one vfully closed.

One of the :objects iof "the invention'is to '-provide a highly serviceable anddurabledraintting of the class described, nstructurally adapted Y"for economical" mass production.

. Another "object "to `provide ya drain fitting df the class "described, Which can "be fabricated principallyfrom thin'non-'corros'ivarustresisting sheet Vmaterial by spinning, pressing, stamping and/or punching.

A further-object is 1the"prov'ision-o'f a drain-htting "of 4the Vclass referred to lrequiring Ano ifscrews, welds, Vor solderintheassenibly of its component parts.

These and lother 'objects A'and Iadvantages are attained by 'themeans specified'-hereinafterand illustrated upontheacconrpanying drawings, in which:

lFig. V1"isV a perspective'view, partlyirrcross-vsection, ofthe assembled drainfitting-in Aits f-preferred embodiment, :showing "the 'vaive `in closed position.

Fig. 2 is afragmentaryf'crossisectional"view'of the same ttingfwith the valve in 'open position.

Fig. `3 is a"top;pian"view vofthe drainage-shell.

Fig. 4 "is a `perspective View -of "the valve Eor lifter stem.

Fig. 5 a view'of .the valveor ylift-ing stem taken onL1ine"5-l5'of 'Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective `view 'of the hva-ive=-me1n jber, `partly 4in :cross section Lto"show-its'construction.

Fig. 7 is a sideeievationalview, partlyin cross section, of the drainage shell assembly `of 'amodied form o'f the invention.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the/same.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational JvieW, 'partly in "cross section, of thestrainerbasket'and valveassembiy of the modified'form.

Fig. 1'0 is a bottomplan view of thesam'e.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of 'the valve isupport inthe modified 'form ofthe invention.

vIn the plumbing art, much effort "has Lbeen expended 4.to mee't arpersistent demandzfor a Vlowpriced yet attractive, ,serviceable .and durable drain fitting for .use'inkitchen sinks-and the'like. Heretofore, such drainttings havelbeen fabricated in a manner that krequired many .costly machiningoperations, intricate operations in asparts together,and so vorn-alici which necessarily added to the; cost 4#of *the 'inished product. 'This need for a-llowpricedsiiik drain fitting is Ilargelysajtisedibythedevice of'the present invention. Its simplicity of Jcons'truc'tion and assembly, "as will *be A5hereinafter disclosed. fpermits it -to @be fabricated by @mass @reduction methods `'ai'. A'very low cost.

With reference *to "fFig. ll, fthe drain structure comprises -a drainage-shell fl 5, a r'strainer vbasket 16, Ia valve 11, and Ia waive vor lifting Astem -|'8. The drainage sheil |-5 v4maylbe :stamped-or otherwise lfashioned from a relatively thin sheet Iof rust and corrosion resistant material, ysuch as Monelmetal,stainless-steel; silver-nickel, or=other material'-Whihiischaracteiiizedby@toughnessand high tensile strength and which requires no pla-'ti-ng. lThef-use.o-1=suc11.materialdias thevadvantage of #giving the iitting --an exceedingly Siong llife :sincef has fno platedsni'faceto wear :away under fthe abrasive faction ci scouring powders and other fgrit'ty detergents Lcommonly used fito clean kitchen sinks. A=`It is .also immune to attacks vrfrom various Aacids land :chemicals contained in waste products lpassi-ng :through .the @drain incident to its fuse. The shefl may comprise a body @portion i9 having :an annular :flange 2211. disposed frito engage the :margins of a suitabie vaper-imre'provided throughithelbottom: rof -a kitchen asi-nk, fslab, `-or other area to be drained. The outer @wall-fof -itherfcupI-'likemortion .t9 'iis provided with threads :521| to \cooperate with `a suitable clamping nut (not shown) for securing the drain- 'agesshellffto-'thefsinkpa suitablewvasherlbeingusuallydisposed betweenitheangel andI the fs'in'k -to eiec't a -iluid-tight -fsealtherebetween "The lower `Ledge :fof the body portion lS/converges fito fform 1.a fczmistricted outlet 'passageway 22, ftheL-outerllwailillof which isthreaded :as atll, for engagement :with ia .waste ipipe or 'trap in communication'wlithfasewer for otherV waste disposal means.

`Ari A.sa-nmilarivalveseat i2155forcooperativi-1l with the valve |11,iis@providedinternallyof the passage 22, Iat V:the 'fupper perimeter thereof, said lvalve seat taperii-ig inwardlyfkfrom appoint Iof maximum Width iwi-1ere it intersects the "convergent fbottom f215 off-the vsheil (5. integral Wit-hft'he "drainage, shell'y is 4an auxiliarygstrainer. lgenerally-indicatediby'thenumeral 21 .said strainer including outletportsT andra centra'Llifting stem 'support portionii .depending"from the radia1ly.;extending cross .arms "30. Asshownin Figs. l'2 and 73, l"the lifter stemsupport portion isa concentric hernisembly, `'the application of "screws for securing '55 spherical depression ai-t the 'extreme lower-spart of the drainage shell I5, having therein a central elongated aperture 32, said aperture having two parallel straight sides 33 and two other sides arcuated on a common radius, as indicated at 34. The function of the aperture 32, an important aspect of the present invention, will be hereinafter explained. As will be noted from the foregoing, the drainage shell I; with all its various functional elements, may be stamped or otherwise fashioned from a single piece of relatively thin sheet material, an important factor in the economical production of the device.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the strainer basket I6 and thevalve I1 are concentrally mounted on the lifter stem. I8, theassembly being disposed for vertical and rotatable movement within the drainage shell I5. The

4 against rotation therein. In order to open the valve, the basket assembly is raised vertically by means of the lifter head 42 until the lifter stem portion 45 is disengaged from the drainage shell aperture 32, and rotated substantially onequarter turn, then dropped. At this point, the end face 41 of the lifter stem comes to rest in the hemispherical lifter support member '29, with the flats 46A transversely disposed over the elongated aperture 32 of the drainage shell I5. In

i this elevated position the valve I1 has become strainer basket I6, cup-like'in form' andv stampedA or otherwise fashioned from a thin sheet of rust and corrosion resistant material, is provided with suitable drainholes 35. The upper edge of the basket may be provided with an outwardly extending flange 36,-the free outer edge 31 of which is adapted yto slide androtate freely within thebody portionA of thedrainage shell I5. The floor of the basket I6 is centrally apertured as at 44 for engagement with the enlarged diameter 40 of the lifter stem I8.

The valve 1 is simply a disc formed with a downwardly and inwardly turned continuous flange 38, said valve being centrally apertured as at |40 for mounting it upon the diameter 40 of the lifting stem I8. The frusto-conical flange 38 is tapered at an angle to conform to the angle of the valve seat 25 in order to maintain leakproof relationship when in engagement therewith.

The lifter stem I8 is provided with suitable finger gripping `means such as a head 42 at its upper end, for manipulating the strainer basket assembly to open and closed position. Substantially midway of its length the lifter stemA is provided with a stop 43, against which the strainer basket I6 abuts when. mounted upon theA enlarged diameter 40 ofthe lifter stem, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. After the-valve I1 has been mounted on the diameter 4U of thelifter stem I8, in abutting relation with the bottom face of the strainer basket floor, the shoulder 39 Aof said lifter stem is peened or rolled over as shown at 4| in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby to firmly secure said basket and valve against rotation or other movement upon the lifter stem I8. l

The lower portion 45 of the lifterstemmay be provided with opposed parallel flat ,surfaces 46, giving said portion 45 the sameform in crosssection as the form of the aperture `32 in the drainage shell I5 with which it engages when the valve is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

As revealed by a study of Figs..l and 2, the valve I1 may be moved toward or away from its seat by grasping the head 42 of the lifter stem I8. If the valve is to be closed, thereby to maintain fluid in the sink, basin, or other fixture to which the drain fitting is attached, the strainer basket assembly is partially rotated by means of the lifter stem head 42 until vthe lifter stem portion 45 enters the fiat sided aperture 32 of the drainage shell |5. At this moment the basket assembly, with the valve I1, gravitationally drops until the valve engages its seat 25, in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the lifter stem portion 45 extends partially through the aperture 32, and by virtue'of its re'- 4lationship with said'aperture, 'is -precluded unseated, permitting passage therethrough, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, of waste water or other fluid into the constricted outlet passageway 22, through the auxiliary drain ports 28 and into a suitable sewage outlet. The strainer basket I6 serves to prevent garbage and other large particles of extraneous matter from entering and possibly clogging the waste pipes leading away from the fitting. The basket and valve assembly is maintained in a firm vertical open position by virtue of the end face 41 being seated in the centrally disposed hemispherical lifter stem support portion 29. In order to remove accumulated waste matter from the strainer basket assembly, said assembly may be lifted from the drainage shell I5, and quickly and easily replaced to either open or closed valve position.

The end face 41 of the'lifter stem I8 may be provided with a spherical radius in conformance with the radius of the lifter stem support portion 29 in which it seats when the valve 25 is in open position, as indicated in Fig. 2.

A modification in the structure of the present invention is envisioned, as illustrated by Figs. 7 and 9. The drainage shell I I5, fabricated of material similar to that used in the embodiment previously described, is stamped or otherwise fashioned with a downwardly extending flange portion IIS, said flange having an inwardly extending annular lip I I1. Pressed into the flange portion IIS is an exteriorly threaded tubular coupling member IIB having an outwardly extending fiange I I9, the annular edge |20 of which is rmlyembraced in leak-proof relation by the inner wall of the flange portion ||6 by means of the aforementioned pressing operation. To maintain the leak-proof relationship between the coupling member and the drainage shell, a suitable gasket or washer |2| may be interposed between the waste tube fiange I|9 and the drainage shell lip II'I, as indicated in Fig. 7. The body portion |22 of the drainage shell ||5 includes an annular flange |23, provided for engaging the margin of a suitable aperture in a sink, tray or other area to be drained. Leak-proof relationship between the sink and the drainage shell may-be attained by the application of a suitable washer |24 between the flange |23 of the shell and the upper face of the sink bottom to which the fitting is. fixed.

The valve seat member |25 is pressed into the upper opening of the coupling member I I8, as at |26, where it is frictionallyjheld against rotation. An outwardly vextending flange |21 on the valve seat member serves'as an abutment which limits the extent to which said valve seat member may be pressed into the coupling part IIS. Integral with the valve seat member are the radially extending spaced arms I28, which serve tov support the drainage basket assembly |29 when the valve |30'is in open position.

An annular valve seat I3I is provided internally of the member |25, said valve seat tapering inwardly at an angle conforming to the tapered periphery |32 of the valve |30 with which it engages in closed and fluid tight relationship.

The strainer basket assembly |29, which is adapted to be removably positioned within the drainage shell |22, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1, comprises a strainer basket |33, a valve |30, and a basket support |34, all concentrically mounted on a lifter or valve stem |35.

The cup-shaped strainer basket |33, suitably fashioned from a thin sheetof rust and acid resistant material, is provided with drain holes |33 and an out-turned annular flange or guide rim |39 for engagement within the upper wall portion |46 of the drainage shell body |22.

The disc-like valve member |30, provided with the hereinbefore mentioned annular tapered peripheral portion |32, is also provided with a recess |4| for disposition therein, in abutting relationship, of the basket support |34, as indicated in Fig. 9.

The basket support |34, shown in Fig. 11, may include a flange |42 depending from its periphery. This flange is provided with a series of depending lugs |49, with intervening spaces |113, the number of lugs being equal to the number of radial arms |28 in the valve seat member |25. The basket |33, the valve |30, and the support |34 are all centrally apertured as indicated at |45, |46, and |47 respectively, said apertures being of equal diameter for concentric disposition on the lower portion |48 of the lifter stem |35. The iioor of the strainer basket |33 abuts a shoulder |59 on said lifter stem, while the upper face of the valve member |30 abuts the bottom of the basket |33. The support member |49 is disposed within the recess |4| of the valve |30, and the three parts |33, |30, and |34 are secured in their relative positions by rolling or peening over the peripheral edge |36 of a recess |37 formed in the bottom face of the lifter` stem |35, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

In normal open position, the flat bottoms |50 of lugs |49 rest transversely on the radially extending arms |28, thus supporting the basket assembly |29 in an elevated position. When the basket assembly is so disposed, the valve |30 is unseated, thereby permitting free flow of waste water into and through the tubular waste member ||8. In order to close the valve, thereby to maintain fluid in the sink or other xture to which the tting is applied, the basket assembly is partially rotated until the lugs |49 disengage from the drainage shell arms |28 upon which said lugs rest. At this moment the basket assembly will drop, bringing the valve |30 upon its seat |3|, in fluid-tight relationship. In this closed position, the lugs |49 are disposed within the drainage ports |52 of the drainage shell, with the spaces |43 of the basket support |34 straddling the radial arms |28 of the drainage shell. The basket assembly may be lifted or rotated by means of the head |53 of the lifter stem, said head being suitably formed to provide finger gripping means. i

In order to clean the strainer basket |33 of refuse, the strainer basket assembly is lifted out of the drainage shell by means of the head |53 of the lifter stem. The basket assembly is then replaced to its normal open or closed valve position.

From the foregoing it is obvious that there is provided a simple and positive acting drain tting which may be very economically manufactured and assembled, and which, once assembled, is trouble free, since there ane no pins or other delicate parts to become damaged or broken. It should also be noted that the valve is not given to rotary motion relative to its seat when it is seated or unseated, since the valve is constrained to move vertically toward or away from its seat, thereby eliminating wear between the cooperating valve members.

It is to be understood that various structural changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sink strainer, the combination of a unitary cup-shaped shell comprising a peripheral flange for supporting the fitting, a side wall, and a partly open bottom including a central portion having a spherical curvature concaved upwardly, the spherically curved portion having a central aperture having at least one flat side, an annular valve seat on an intermediate surface of the shell, a cup-shaped strainer basket mounted for vertical movement and being rotatable inside the shell, a stem extending from the bottom of the basket coaxially therewith and secured thereto, said stem having its lower end adapted to slide through said central aperture, said lower end having at least one at side adapted to engage the fiat side of the aperture of the shell when the lower end of the stem is in the aperture, the end surface of the lower end of the stem being curved to correspond to the spherically curved surface of the bottom of the shell, the spherically curved tip of the stem being adapted to rest in the spherically curved portion of the shell to support the basket in an elevated position, a valve disc attached to the lower side of the basket and adapted to engage the valve seat when the basket and the stem are in lowered position, the valve disc and seat being disengaged when the basket and stem are in elevated position, the stem and basket being rotatable' in the shell when in elevated position to bring the flat surfaces of the shell and the stem into alignment to permit the basket and stem to fall to bring the valve disc and valve seat into engagement.

2. A sink strainer in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the bottom of the shell as dened by the spherically curved portion of the shell is attached to the shell wall by spaced radial arms and that perforations are provided between the spaced radial arms to permit ow of uid through the bottom of the shell when the basket and stem are in elevated position.

FOREST L. W. LINK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,107,363 Schmidt Aug. 18, 1914 1,773,547 Robertson Aug. 19, 1930 1,975,865 Rabinovich Oct. 9, 1934 2,038,852 Pasman Apr. 28, 1936 2,090,299 Kuhnle Aug. 17, 1937 2,163,453 Schultis June 20, 1939 2,263,537 Fredrickson Nov. 18, 1941 

